As an air hostess, people often ask me just how do I keep my skin hydrated with all the flights I do, and what are the best products to take on board a flight to keep themselves feeling human after a transatlantic journey. The answer may change depending on who you ask, yet for me it’s simple. Moisture, moisture, moisture. I’m going to take you on a journey today. A journey of my can’t live without, most wanted and holy grail items that I use l whilst at work and whilst travelling to keep optimum skin hydration.

My number one item to keep your skin and body hydrated is of course water. I try to drink three litres a day, every day. It may seem like a huge amount but when you can visibly see the difference that water makes to your skin and body, you’ll be a convert. Try adding fresh ginger and lemon to a bottle, or even infuse water at home. My favourites are cucumber, mint and lemon infusions and raspberry and blackberry using fresh fruit. Whilst at work, I use a sugar free flavouring to help that last litre go down. The benefits on my skin are very apparent. My skin looks plumped up, fresh and healthy. I feel energised from not having sugar and in general I feel awake and alert.

Flying can take its toll on your skin, and working in an environment where dirt and pollution is high, my ‘at home’ skincare routine is in depth. I remove all my make up post flight with a cream cleanser, followed by a cleansing oil to rid my skin of any impurities. For the last ten years I have been using products by Estée Lauder; Micro Essence, Advanced Night Repair and Revitalizing Supreme moisturiser. Each product is very rich, and gives my skin the nourishment that it needs whilst helping fight the toxins from the pollution and helping to battle signs of ageing. This is where seven hours of sleep also helps!

Every morning before work, after cleansing, I quench my face with a hydrating toner like the Jurlique Rose Water Toner before applying my favourite Perricone MD Hyalo Plasma cream. The hyaluronic acid within the gel cream retains moisture in the skin and also leaves skin feeling like glass. It’s great to apply makeup over to give a flawless finish.

Treats for the skin include twice weekly exfoliation using Origins Original Skin Clay Mask and these handy one use face mask pods from Nügg Beauty.

Whilst on board an aircraft, I have four key products in my liquids bag which I use daily. A facial spritz from Kiehls, Elizabeth Arden 8 hour hand cream, NUXE Lip balm and eye drops. When my skin is feeling parched and in need of refreshment, without ruining my make up, the Kiehls In Flight spray is perfect. The lavender and geranium scent is soothing and calming not only on the skin but for the mental state. A good lip balm helps keep lips feeling supple and wearing matte lipstick isn’t an issue if lips feel smooth and hydrated. As I’m constantly prepping my skin, I try not to forget my eyes and keep them lubricated using drops. They’re a must for contact lens wearer. Finally, a good hand cream is necessary. Dry air, harsh washroom soaps and manual labour on board means hands get the brunt of the job. A good cream brings back that bit of luxury we need.

These products are my old faithful items that have been discovered throughout my flying career, and ones that I hope will continue into the future. As long as your skin is getting the moisture it needs, you will stay hydrated. Look for products that are rich and nourishing for post flight, soothing and refreshing for mid-flight and packed with hyaluronic acid for an extra boost.

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I’ve been waiting for ages to get a new Air Hostesses Guide post up for you but with everything that has been going on over Christmas and New Year, it’s taken quite some time. After doing a mini poll on Twitter, it seems that a lot of you are interested in my life as a hostie so I am making sure that I continue my Air Hostesses Guide by posting a least one a month. I’d love to know what kind of thing you would like to see, so don’t forget to leave me a comment below and let me know. This month’s post will be all about my suitcase essentials and the items that I like to have to hand in my case on every trip that I do as well as my shiny new suitcase.

Over the years of flying, I have become quite set in my ways about what I require from my suitcases. I need a hard shell, medium size and preferably with 4 wheels for ease of transporting around. I’ve known the Constellation brand and it’s great reputation so my new, super girly, bright pink case was a winner from the moment that I spotted it. The case itself is the Constellation 24″ Galloway ABS Suitcase in Pink, retailing for £65 which is a bargain compared to my Samsonite case. With a push button handle that extends to two different lengths, zip fastening with integral lock and 4 wheels for ease of pushing rather than pulling, I can safely say that I’m very pleased. The inside of the case comes with a separation divider with extra pocket and it’s very deceiving in size. I’m was quite surprised at just how much I could fit in my case, and I bring a lot of stuff to work with me. It’s also very light when empty, so if I did have to stick to a luggage allowance then it gives me a few extra pounds of weight to play with.

I used to be a serial sunbather but I’ve decided that I prefer to fake it, rather than bake my skin in the skin. I do still sit out in the sun when the mood takes me but I am covered in SPF50 so I don’t burn. Instead, I have been trying out different brands of false tan to find one that is suitable for travelling, one that is quick and easy to use and of course, that develops into a long lasting golden tan. Sienna X is a completely new brand for me, and although I have heard of it over the years, I haven’t ever tried it. I’ve noticed that with the air pressure, any mousse or foaming tanning products are subject to leaking so I decided to try the Express Tanning Mist by Sienna X. Being a total novice in the ‘at home’ spray tan, I was expecting this to be a total failure on the first application, yet I was pleasantly surprised. It’s so easy to apply and the 360 degree nozzle means you can get the backs of legs and your back with ease. I did get a few mini streak marks but I blended these into the skin with a tanning matt. The colour that initially goes on your skin is a lovely golden tan that helps with application and over a few hours, it develops into a deep golden colour that thankfully isn’t orange, but natural like you’ve spent a few days in the Caribbean. I’ve also been using the Sienna X Radiance Body Balm, and not exclusively to help prolong my tan. I’ve totally fallen in love with this beautifully scented balm that contains shea butter, coconut and almond oil as well as vitamin E. When I have used it over my false tan, it has helped to keep my skin intensively moisturised and prolonging the length of time that the tan stays on for. I’ve also been using it when I’ve been going out as the balm is filled with golden flecks that give me legs for days. It’s absolutely gorgeous!

Being on my feet all day does have quite an effect on how I feel when I get into my hotel room. Apart from feeling exhausted, I also feel incredibly achy and sometimes suffer from cramping when I’m in bed. To alleviate these issues, I have two products from Puressentiels which can be bought at Boots. The first product is the Puressentiel Joint Care Gel, an aromatherapy blend of essential oils that not only relaxes me through its scent, but that cools and soothes my tired legs when rubbed into the muscles. I like to apply this after a warm shower and before I get into bed but remembering to wash my hands after applying – it will sting if it gets into eyes! I also picked up the Puressentiel Sleep Spray to help me relax. Being away from home so often does sometimes have a bad effect on my sleep, and I often wake up in a panic, not knowing where I am or having weird dreams. The sleep spray has not only helped in the relaxation stakes but the scent now automatically reminds me that I am away. I like to spray it into the corners of the room to encase the room in it’s scent and as I fall asleep, I can smell eucalyptus and lavender. It’s so lovely.

An absolute suitcase essential is my travel adapter from Emma Lomax. In a previous post about my Crew Bag Essentials, you’ll have spotted the Emma Lomaz SOS Kit, so the travel adaptor in the matching airplane embroidered pouch was definitely on my list of purchases. It’s become a bit of a god send in the last few weeks as I have been in India, which have a totally different plug type but a European plug can be used. I didn’t have a European plug but thankfully as well as having a US adaptor, the adaptor does contain a European plug. Phew!

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I’ve been seeing a lot of What’s in my Bag posts lately so I thought I would mix it up a little. As part of my Air Hostesses Guide, I thought a ‘What’s in my Crew Bag’ post would be quite fun, especially as the items I carry around in my case are things that I need mainly for work. I also have so many people ask just what is in my trolley case, and I’m guessing that the contents aren’t quite what people think. So, without further adieu, here are my in flight essentials; for work and for myself.

My crew bag is quite a decent sized bag, and it holds quite a lot. Sometimes, my actual suitcase is lighter than than my crew bag with the amount of stuff I like to have on me. No wonder I have a bad back! In the front pocket of my case I keep all of the essentials that I need easy access to; spare paperwork, baggage tags, my cash wallet and high viz jacket. I also keep my magazines in the front for when I am travelling or having my break. I have just packed the latest mags from my magazine.co.uk subscription service.

As you can see, I like to have a lot of things with me. I suppose it’s covering for all eventualities. Packets of cereal and emergency chocolate bars are hidden in the case, alongside my sunglasses for when I land in a foreign destination, and my eye mask for trying to rest on flights home. I also have uniform that I need for the flight; my tabard for services and my cardigan for when it gets cold, as well as my cabin shoes. I’m not sure if I have mentioned this in a previous post, but as cabin crew we have to wear two different types of shoes in a working day. We have our outdoor shoes which are worn when we are in uniform but not on the aircraft. These have a heel of around 3.5 inches and are a smart court shoe that compliments the uniform. For our cabin shoes, which we change into when on board the aircraft, the heel is around 1 to 2 inches in height. A low heel is much needed in the cabin as flat shoes have such a damaging effect on my legs and give me so much pain. The heel on the Hotter Shimmy shoes are just right, and the round toe and leather material make them ideal for work. I’m so shocked at just how new they still look when I have been wearing them for over two months!

One very important item that I need to carry with me is my passports. I have two passports; one is my current and in date passport and the other contains my ten year US Visa. My old passport with my Visa expired before my visa did, so I have to carry both around until it is time to renew them. I have the cutest personalised passport holder from Claireabella, with a travel stamp design and the doll icon is personalised to look like me. Not only that, but my name is on there, making it easier to get my passport back to me when there are 11 crew checking in at once. I also have the matching Claireabella make up bag which I keep my make up that doesn’t need to be cleared at security. This is mainly powders and brushes as everything else needs to be in a clear plastic bag. The make up bag is made of super soft fabric and although it looks quite small, it can fit in so much. I love how the Claireabella range is suitable for everyone and can be customised for any look.

One of the randomest items I have in my bag, but the most needed, is my travel hot water bottle. Working through the night isn’t called the graveyard shift for no reason. Between 3am and 5am, I find that I simply cannot get warm at all, and I am chilled to the bone. My hot water bottle comes in so handy to give me a little burst of heat and helps me perk up for the next service. I also have the best little kit that is designed to cover any mini emergency. The Airplane SOS Kit from Emma Lomax makes sure you have an answer for lots of lifes little emergencies. Mini sewing kit, toothpaste and toothbrush, ear plugs and a phone charger to name just a few. The bag also doubles up as a handy wash bag and I have filled it with added extras such as hair bobbles, spare tights and clean underwear as you just never know what might happen!

Finally, in my mini jute bag I have all those bits that come in handy when I’m in the galley. Kitchen surface wipes, oven gloves and ice tongs, pens and lots of teabags. I’ve been drinking the new Tetley Superfruits Immune with added Vitamin C in Peach and Orange flavour. These haven’t hit the supermarket shelves just yet, but they have been providing me with 17% of my recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C. That’s great news for me as I need to up my intake to help my B12 issues as well as to fight off all those germs that I am exposed to. The Tetley Super Green Tea Boost with added B6 is a delicious Berry flavour and the B6 helps fight off tiredness and fatigue. Who knew that just two cups of tea could help me in so many ways! The Super Green Tea range is available now in four different flavours. I may need to stock up.

Are the items in my crew bag what you were expecting? What did you think may be in there but wasn’t? Let me know in the comments below.

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The second part of my Air Hostesses Guide to Miami is focusing on those all important beauty products that I have been using whilst away. I can’t cover every beauty product that I used as we really would be up to part twenty five before we knew it, so we are looking at the key ingredients for keeping skin and hair protected and refreshed in that 100 degree heat. We also need to keep protected in the UK, especially with these mini heat waves that we have been experiencing. I haven’t always been a user of SPF in both face and body creams, but the last ten years or so I have made sure I use them. As I work on an aircraft, and with the high altitudes that I fly at, I am a lot closer to the suns harmful rays than the average person. Although I am not in direct contact with say the cockpit windows all flight, I still make sure that my skin is protected with an SPF of at least 20 prior to putting my make up on. I’m not taking any chances on looking like a leather handbag later on in life.

At the moment, I have three different facial SPF products on the go and I use these for different occasions. The first is from Crystal Clear, a brand that I have been familiar with for many years. Crystal Clear is the brand used at my local salon for my microdermabrasion treatments. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that their skincare was being sold at Debenhams. The Protect & Repair SPF40 is my current facial SPF of choice. It’s lightweight, and it doesn’t clog up skin, especially when getting hot and sweaty in the sun. It absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth whilst looking radiant. I haven’t had any issues with burning whilst wearing Protect & Repair, however I make sure I apply it frequently. I like to use this whilst out and about in the sun, with a light BB cream over the top.

I firmly believe that French pharmacy brands are some of the best in the business, and Vichy features quite heavily in my skincare routine. I have two different facial SPF products from Vichy, one that I wear daily for work and the other that is more suited to those work trips where I am being a sun worshipper. The Vichy Idéal Soleil range has two stand out products that I couldn’t go without. The first is the Mattifying face fluid dry touch SPF30, which is the preferred choice for my daytime SPF. As it mattifies the skin, it makes light work of adding foundation over the top. It doesn’t clump or bobble which is fantastic, especially with a long day of wearing make up whilst in the sky. As I only wear this for work, I haven’t found any adverse effect on my skin, but I do have to double cleanse to make sure it has all been removed after a flight. For sitting out in the sun and baking, I use SPF50 Velvety Cream Complexion Refining Action. I wish in my earlier years that I had taught myself about sun protection and I hope now that some of the sun damage that was caused in my teens and early twenties has reduced somewhat. Perfect for intense heat, it doesn’t bobble on my face or make my skin feel congested and itchy.

Superdrug have an extensive range of Solait sun care products and I personally do not tend to use anything less that an factor 30 on my body. I spend a lot of time in extreme climates, on long haul trips where the sun is fierce and burning is not on my agenda. Sun damage is something that I am concerned about, and although I do still sunbathe, I also make sure I am fully protected. Solait Factor 30 lotion and Solait factor 50 Sensitive Spray are my factors of choice, and with both I still get a gorgeous, deep and dark natural tan that lasts, without peeling. To stop my skin from drying out post sunbathing, I slap on the Moisturising After Sun Lotion that I have kept in the fridge. It feels amazing! Myself and Keeley were also thankful for the Superdrug Instant Body and Face Cooling Spray in the 100 degree heat. It’s a great instant fix that cools you down quickly in the sun.

Two products that I have absolutely fallen in love with are from the Solait Perfecting range. The BB 5 in 1 Bronzing Cream and the Shimmer Oil are just incredible. The BB Cream is ideal to wear with the Crystal Clear Protect & Repair as it increases luminosity whilst being lightweight and non-transferable. The colour of the BB cream is golden, yet doesn’t leave skin looking like an Oscar statue, and skin looks naturally glowy and sunkissed. The Shimmer Oil has been making an appearance every time I have had my legs on show. It’s not a dry oil, yet it isn’t overly oily. It’s quite moisturising and doesn’t feel at all greasy, and works beautifully with a natural tan to make skin look gorgeous and glowing. Although it is a face and body oil, I prefer to use it on just my body as I find it a bit difficult to work into the face when wearing make up.

With all the focus on the body and face, it’s quite easy to forget the mane attraction; your hair. Holidays to me are meant for sexy, dishevelled beach waves and a a good deep conditioning treatment after being in the sun. I mentioned the wonders of the John Freida Beach Blonde Kelp Help deep conditioning masque in my What’s in my Shower Caddy post, and how it has been giving moisture back to my frazzled locks. I have also been using the John Freida Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray to create natural, tousled waves with texture and hold. I spray onto towel dried hair, twist random sections of hair and finger comb to create uneven messy waves. I find that it doesn’t work on dry hair, so damp hair is best.

Miami was such a great holiday, and I love trying new products out when I’m away. There really has been some stand out products in those that I have mentioned so I hope that you think of them the next time you go away. Whatever you do, don’t forget your SPF! Can you recommend any other high facial SPF products for me? Leave your recommendations in the comments below.

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At the beginning of June, myself and my friend Keeley from Phat Cupcake embarked on a mini adventure to Miami for a week. A spur of the moment decision, I booked Keeley onto my flight from Manchester to Miami as a buddy and we were ready for a good girly getaway. I’ve decided to split my Air Hostesses Guide to Miami into two parts; one for the sights and delights that Miami has to offer, and another for some of the new beauty products that I used whilst there. The post will be a little picture heavy, but I have managed to whittle the photos down from the 1000s that I took to the ones that I will be using. I wish I had managed to get this all written up earlier as I have been dying to tell you all, but it’s quite nice revisiting my trip and reminiscing about all we did.

Our flight left Manchester at 12:15, Sunday 31st May. Taking just under 9 hours, we arrived at Miami International Airport at around 5pm. Miami Airport is massive, and as we walked to get the car we had ordered, we were so surprised at just how big it was. We picked up a Ford Mustang in red, which we had hired for five days with Alamo. We got a really good price including a tank of fuel. Keeley was the designated driver for the week, having negotiated a USA road trip before. I was so surprised at just how huge and spaghetti-like the free ways and interstates were. Due to the length of our day, our first night was spent relaxing and eating. We drove to the Dolphin Mall to visit The Cheesecake Factory. I had lemon and garlic shrimp, which was just delicious. After falling into a food coma, we headed home for a good night sleep and to see what tomorrow brought.

Monday morning and the weather was beautiful. Blue skies, high temperatures and I was ready for a day of shopping and eating. Saw Grass Mills, Ft Lauderdale was our destination of choice, a shopping mall with a premium outlet and food court attached. There was also a Super Target, and to be honest, that was our whole reason for heading towards there. Target is a huge superstore, but without fresh food. Everything you could ever think of will be found in Target. A Super Target has fresh food, and twice as much stuff as a regular Target. Heaven. We lunched at Californian Pizza Kitchen, one of my favourite chains in the States. I had the Thai Chicken Pizza, again one of my favourites. We drove back in the beautiful weather and watched, with the roof down on the car, as the clouds blew over and it went really overcast and gloomy Typical Floridian weather for May/June. A few drinks at Catch of The Day next door to the hotel and an early night was calling.

Tuesday was one of the best days of the trip as we were going alligator spotting. The weather was still a bit gloomy but it was warm without being humid. We drove up to Buffalo Tiger Tours in the Everglades, approximately 40 minutes away from Miami Airport. For around $25, we had a good 45 minutes on the air boat, getting up close and personal with alligators and grasshoppers, and learning about the Miccosukee tribe, one of the original natives of Florida. We then took a drive right up to the Gulf of Mexico and visited Naples, a gorgeous area surrounded by beautiful beaches and filled with incredible mansions.

On Wednesday, we headed out in the glorious sunshine and drove over to the Bay of Biscayne. We had plans to go to Key West but the weather was so temperamental that we decided not to bother. Biscayne Bay was a short drive of around 20 minutes and it’s a very upmarket area. I googled some of the houses and they were for sale at $50 Million! Some had boating docks in their back gardens! The rain came along so we drove to Coral Gable and an area called the Miracle Mile. Quite possibly one of my favourite places, a street filled with little boutiques, restaurants, shops and coffee shops, with free car parking in a mini mall with an Ulta Beauty, Marshalls and Nordstrom Rack. Wednesday evening took us to a quaint little tapas bar called Madrid. Happy hour was 4pm til 7pm so we had to have a few Sangrias with our tapas. I had baked goats cheese with patatas bravas and homemade aioli.

Our final full day was Thursday and although there was so many things that we wanted to do, we couldn’t because of the weather. We decided to do what we do best; shopping. We drove to Aventura Mall, near Ft Lauderdale. It’s a premium mall so has high end designers as well as Macys, Sephora etc. A second trip of the week to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch, and a mini haul in Sephora, Macys and Henri Bendel was just what the Dr ordered. I’d heard about a vintage shop on Biscayne Blvd, North Miami so we stopped off at C.Madeleine’s to see why Vogue calls it ‘Miami’s best kept secret.’ A 10,000 square foot shop filled with vintage clothes spanning back to the Victorian ear to the 80’s and early 90’s, a whole lot of vintage Chanel and designer couture costing thousands of dollars. It was simply amazing.

On the way home, we passed through South Beach and down Collins Ave. South Beach was everything I thought it would be; vibrant, overpriced and pretentious. I’m sure if I had an evening out there, I may see a different side to it but spending $45 on a cocktail just because you are in a nice area is not for me! That being said, I loved the art deco hotels and designs, and there definitely was a buzz around the place.

I loved Miami, and I’m looking forward to going back to discover some more. I think I need to save some pennies for another trip to C.Madeleines for some vintage Chanel in my life! Have you ever been to Miami? Do you have any recommendations?

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Hello my lovelies, and welcome back to another Air Hostesses guide. Last week I wrote my Air Hostesses Guide on how to relax and I have been trying to take my own advice and switching everything off before bed. It hasn’t been working as such as I’ve had some dreadful jet lag but I’ve been finding that if I leave my phone at the other side of the room, it takes away that need to play Farm Heroes Saga in bed at 2am. With this silly tiredness routine that I’ve managed to fall into, my sleep pattern is all over the place and it’s leaving me looking exhausted and generally haggard. It gave me a great idea to make another guide; the Air Hostesses Guide to combating signs of fatigue.

Fatigue is the bain of my life. It’s not just about being sleepy and over tired, but a real weariness throughout my body, aching muscles and lack of concentration and understanding when conversing. Aside from getting a mega 15 hour sleep, which I love doing, sometimes I need a quick fix to get myself looking bright and alert on the outside when inside I’m practically asleep.

Bausch + Lomb have been lifesavers in the last few weeks. I wear contact lenses the majority of the time when I go to work and only wear my glasses for work when I’m really tired. There’s a whole giant bun plus glasses and trying to fit a life jacket in the safety demo dilemma going on right there. So, for a contact lens wearer I need a bit of a hand to combat tired, dry eyes and the Artelac Rebalance eye drops have been giving my eyes a new lease of life whilst wearing my lenses. No dryness, itchiness or stinging on flights for me. For an extra boost, especially on that first night back after long haul, the Artelac Nighttime Gel gets rid of grittiness and dryness whilst I have my mammoth sleep.

Alongside the fatigue from work, I am also dealing with a personal battle of having a Vitamin B12 deficiency so I love finding products that contain extra amounts of the vitamin that my body is crying out for. The latest beauty product that I has had me hooked is the Timebomb Complexion Cocktail with a shot of B12. I’ve been using this in between flights to perk my skin up and get rid of my tired, dull looking pallor. The changes in my skin are noticeable, with a natural radiance and plumped up complexion. I’m starting to get that healthy glow back.

If only I could find a product that miraculously makes under eye bags disappear and leave the skin looking tight and bright. Well, never fear as Skin Doctors Cosmecueticals have answered my prayers. I was gifted the Instant Eyelift, £20.40 in my goodie bag from the Blog On MOSI conference so I was very intrigued to try it after reading several conference attendees shout out about this wonderful eye lift in a bottle. The serum is quite watery and I used a pump for each eye. Using my ring finger, I applied the serum to the undereye contour and sat and watched in the mirror as my under eye bags practically disappeared and looked smooth with no lines and wrinkles. Make up application over the serum is easy and the serum lasted around 6 hours before I started to see my little laughter lines appear again. I’m totally in love.

It’s great that I have found some products that help me from looking tired but sometimes it can come down to a state of mind. To help me relax and revive, I find that a bath or shower using the Aromatherapy Associates Essential Travel Oils has helped me to get motivated or to relax ready for a deep night sleep. Four of Aromatherapy Associates best selling bath and shower oils are included in this cute little set that I can pop in my suitcase ready for my long haul trips. Only a capful of Deep Relax, Revive Morning, Revive Evening and Support Lavender and Peppermint have been needed for a quick fix and to set me up for the day, or the night.

Work is getting really busy now as we head into the summer season and I cannot wait to experience the journey. As my company started new routes this year to New York and Miami, I am so excited to be able to visit these fabulous places. My next goal for the Air Hostesses Guide is to bring you some travel posts, so look out for my trip to Miami.

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It’s about time that I resurrected The Air Hostesses Guide as not only have I missed it, but it seems you lovely lot have as well. I was thinking about what I could write about whilst lying in bed the other night, unable to sleep. I have previously mentioned how I combat jet lag, but this lack of sleep wasn’t just because I wasn’t acclimatised, but because I just can’t switch off. I’m always on my phone or my iPad, or watching the TV. It came to me that maybe I need to start switching off to be able to switch off. So, for research purpose of course, I spent a little bit of time on me without any social media interruptions and DVD box sets and taught myself how to relax.

Freshly laundered bedding is the number one sure fire way to help anyone feel relaxed and cosy so whilst I ran my bath, I made my bed up and plumped up my cushions. I did slightly cheat by using my iPad but it was only to find an album on YouTube that played relaxing classical music. I’ve also got a new book to read. Six Little Miracles by Janet Walton is about the Walton sextuplets from Liverpool and I can’t wait to read it because Luci Walton is a really good friend of mine.

With the bedroom ready and the bath nearly full, I added some Buddha Beauty Relax Bath Oil to the hot water and slipped in. The oil made my skin so silky soft and and scent was divine. Lavender, Clary Sage, Rose Geranium and bitter orange create the most calming and totally divine experience. After drying myself off I used Buddha Beauty Organic Dry Sweet Orange Dry Body Oil and spritzed it all over my skin. It locks in moisture and leaves a really smooth satiny finish with no greasiness and is a beautiful body oil for before bed.

Time to make a cup of tea and the Clipper Snore and Peace teabags are the best remedy for relaxing at night. I was introduced to these little bags of goodness by Tori from Wonderful World when I won her blog giveaway. Snore and Peace is a blend of chamomile, lemon balm and lavender and they taste absolutely amazing, smell amazing and I really do think that the lavender helps calm me down.

Back into my bedroom and it’s time to light my Twig + Dot candle in Cinder + Smoke. Oh, this candle. Is it possible to be in love with a candle? It’s heavy, dark and intoxicating, sexy and warming. Violet and rose are entwined with tobacco leaf and vanilla toffee with notes of wood smoke. It’s safe to say that I can’t express my love enough for Twig + Dot.

Finally, it’s time for a treat. Whilst my candle is burning and my tea is cooling, I am rejuvenating my face with one of these face masks from Beauty Masks. I was kindly sent a selection of sheet masks that contain anti-ageing properties and packed full of active ingredients to hydrate, nourish and revive the skin. I love a sheet mask as you don’t have to mess about peeling anything off your tender face, you simply just take it off and reap the benefits. I’ve used the Q-10 Caviar face mask as I love anything that contains this special co-enzyme as it helps with signs of ageing and I’ve felt like I’ve looked about 80 years old lately.

Finally, I slathered some Nuxe Reve de Miel all over my lips and sprayed my pillow with a lavender pillow spray and settled down for the night. I fell asleep so easily as I was in such a state of relaxation which is brilliant and managed to get a solid eight hours. No phone, no social media and lots of calming aromatherapy essential oils really do help this jet lagged hostie wind down.

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At least twice a week, I receive emails, Twitter DMs and Facebook messages asking me for advice about becoming cabin crew. I have been waiting for such a long time to write this post, and with good reasoning, as many airlines now have started their recruitment drives ready for Summer 2015. I have got nearly nine years worth of experience in being cabin crew so although I know my stuff to an extent, I am by no means an expert or careers advisor. I am going to aim to give you as much information about making that first step into becoming cabin crew and if you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me. So, how do I become an Air Hostess?!

When I first applied for my airline, I had just returned home after spending two years in Mallorca as a rep for a holiday company. My airline was part of the same company that I was working for overseas so it was natural for me to apply to the airline. One of the most daunting things I found when applying for other airlines, although I really wanted to be a part of the one I am now, is that there are so many differences between them. Did I want to remain in the UK and settle or would a life in the Middle East be more suited? Did I want to work for a charter airline or a scheduled carrier? Was long haul important to me or would short haul be more my thing. These were the things that I really needed to think about and I made the decision to work from a UK base, on a charter airline that has a mixture of long and short haul.

Most airlines have minimum requirements that you must meet before you apply for the position. These are usually requirements from the list below.

You must be aged 18 or over
Height must range between 5’2 and 6’3 without shoes
Although size isn’t discriminated against, you must be able to fit in a crew seat without the need for modification
Confident swimmer up to 25 metres, unaided
Customer Service experience, minimum of 6 months
You must hold a full UK passport with no restrictions on worldwide travel
Must be able to live and work in the UK with no restrictions
A full 5 year referencing history must be able for the company
Good standard of education, fluent in English
Flexible to work any hour, any day including Christmas and Bank Holidays
No visible tattoos or piercings
A CRB check will need to be carried out

This list may differ for each airline, although these were the minimum requirements when I first started. Recently, a full medical has been required so being fit and healthy enough to do the job is essential. Its hard work on your body!

When sitting down to fill in your application form, I would suggest having the following to hand before starting.

National Insurance Number,
The last five years working history with a personal referee for each gap of 28 days in which work wasn’t carried out. Also, the name and address of your benefits agency if you have been claiming job seekers allowance.
Your email address and a memorable password ready for creating your online application profile.
An up to date CV
A covering letter
Some answers to sample questions such as ‘Tell me about a time that you gave good customer service and provide examples’ etc
Your passport, and if it needs renewing then make a note when it expires.
And personally, a spell checker is always handy. That one little mistake could ruin a whole application

At the moment, several airlines are recruiting so here is a little run down of the companies that I have found.

Keep an eye out for my next Air Hostesses Guide in which I will be running through exactly what my job entails and nearer the time, I will give my experience in assessment days! Please drop me an email if you have any questions in your quest on How do I become an Air Hostess!

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I cannot believe we are in September already. When I started my Air Hostesses Guides back in February, I was coming towards the end of my Winter time off and was itching to get back into my uniform whilst wearing my signature work face and hair. I didn’t think the Air Hostesses Guide would take off as much as it has so I will be doing my best to cover all bases including a frequently requested post on how to get your dream job. Today’s post is a follow on to last weeks Air Hostesses Guide on Summer Ready Legs and this is all about how I keep my feet in sandal ready condition using Scholl Feet Treat Foot Spa .

I work long days. Long days where I am on my feet for the majority and then 11 hours after finishing work I do it all over again. Not only am I on my feet, but I am also wearing heels. I have two pairs of work shoes, one for outdoor and one for indoor. My indoor shoes are only worn in the cabin and have a heel of around an inch and a half. My outdoor shoes which are worn at all other times have a heel of around 3 inches. Suffice to say, my legs and feet throb by the time I have finished a standard day which is around 11- 14 hours long, not including travelling to and from work. I have two wonder products that help my poor feet out time after time.

The Scholl Feet Treat Foot Spa, £29.99* is a must have product in my house. Mainly used on the day that I land back from long haul or on my last day of a block of flights, there is nothing better than a soothing spa massage in the comfort of my own living room. The lead to the foot spa is long enough to plug in across the other of my living room, whilst I get comfortable on my couch. Once I’ve filled with water to my desired temperature, I like to add a few drops of Lavender essential oil to help relax me. The power button can be switched on and off with your feet so there really is as little to do as possible. The textured base of the foot spa stimulates the feet and the addition attachments include a pumice stone and two further massage attachments which can be fitted to the centre of the foot spa. Although I put a towel down underneath the foot spa, the splash hood makes sure that spillage is minimal. All in all, a great treat for tired feet. The Scholl Feet Treat Foot Spa also comes with a nine piece pedicure kit to keep toes in tip top condition.

After spending time soaking my feet, I like to finish off my feet treat with one of my favourite products from The Buddha Beauty Company. The Soul Soother Cooling Peppermint Foot Cream has been a firm favourite of mine for quite some time. The Buddha Beauty Company are a vegan and vegetarian friendly with all the products produced ethically and mostly by hand. The organic cream contains shea butter and peppermint oil which absorbs easily, and gives your feet a new lease of life. I like to give my feet a special overnight treatment by slathering on the cream, popping on a pair of cotton socks and leaving it overnight.

So, there you have it. My perfect pair that helps get my feet from gross to gorgeous overnight. Combined with a pretty pedicure, your feet will never look better. Keep an eye out for the next Air Hostesses Guide and if you have any questions or suggestions on what you would like to see, let me know in the comments box below.

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I feel like I haven’t done an Air Hostesses guide in an age. When I sat down to write this I had summer holidays and trips abroad in mind, and with the recent weather being so hot, I thought I’d bring you two blog posts; one today and one next week on what I use to keep my legs and feet in tip top condition throughout the year. Today is all about getting those perfect pins with the The Air Hostesses Guide to Summer Ready Legs and Nair Argan Oil hair removal products*.

I am away with work quite a lot of the time, whether it be long or short haul, and the time spent at home is precious to me. With the amount of hours that can be built up in a week, I do get to the point where I just simply can’t be bothered and personal grooming needs to be quick and pretty painless. When its not possible to get to a salon and I’m in a rush, I like to de-fluff in the comfort of my own bathroom using Nair Argan Oil Shower Power Cream.

The Nair Argan Oil Shower Power Cream (£6.69) is a traditional hair removal cream that can be applied before showering. After leaving on for 5-10 minutes, the cream can be rinsed off leaving your legs fuzz free and smooth and silky. The argan oil, jojoba oil and cocoa butter enriched formula leaves your legs so soft and conditioned which also helps with the regrowth and prevents ingrowing hairs. I also find that self tanning application is super easy after using Nair Shower Power Cream.

If time isn’t of the essence, I do like to spend a little extra time on grooming and especially if I will be away for a good few days. If I have a long haul trip that I know will be involving sunbathing or a lot of socialising, ie partying, then I need to make sure that I am fuzz free for a good few days. The Nair Argan Oil Body Wax strips are ideal for long lasting, smooth legs.

The Nair Argan Oil Body Wax strips (£6.69) keep legs smooth for up to 4 weeks, and regrowth is minimal within the first few weeks. The strips are simply warmed up in the hand before use until the Nair logo on the strip disappears, applied to the body and whilst holding the skin taut, pull the strip off in the opposite direction to the growth. Nair Pre and Post waxing wipes are also included and the hair can be a short as 1.5mm for the strips to work.

Nair Argan Oil waxing products can be purchased in Boots and Superdrug and will give you the smoothest silkiest legs around. Have you tried home waxing?

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Long Haul. The main thing I spend my life doing and the one thing that I still don’t have any much control over. However, over the years I have found that I have got myself into quite a nice routine to help alleviate the strain of jet lag and assist in getting back on UK time as soon as possible. Although my job means I am constantly battling the time zones, I hope that this post can help those of you who may be taking a long haul holiday soon and help in getting yourself back to normal when you get home before you go back to work.

I can’t offer you much advice for whilst you are on the flight, as I am on my feet for the majority of the flight making sure everyone is fed and watered. I make sure that I drink at least 2 litres of water on any flight over 7 hours and up to 3 litres if I can manage it. I also try to steer away from drinking caffeinated drinks and stick to peppermint tea. I find that peppermint tea really helps with my digestion so I don’t get as bloated or suffer with any tummy troubles after nine hours in a metal tube. Honestly, this job is so glamorous its untrue! I have read so many posts about people doing face masks, hair masks and a whole beauty routine on a flight, however I can hand on heart say I have never witnessed anyone do this, but if you feel that a face mask is needed, then go for it! Try and get some sleep, rest up and relax. The hard work starts when you get home!

Once I’ve got back to the comfort of my own home, I generally tend to remove my make up, usually with a wipe as I’m that exhausted and climb straight into bed. I aim to get around 4 hours of sleep so I can start to feel a bit more human later. I also like to change my bedding once I’ve woken up so its all fresh when I go to bed as normal that evening.

The trick is to force yourself to get out of bed as soon as your awake and not fall back to sleep. You need to get a full uninterrupted night of sleep that first evening, and I tend to go to bed around 9pm. I use a sleep aid such as a strong anti-histamine like Nytol, or sometimes Night Nurse, just to make sure I sleep right the way through. I don’t advocate the use of these medications nor recommend them however I have to get back in my sleep pattern as soon as possible.

During that first day back from your long haul flight is the time to treat yourself and help your body start feeling normal again. I fully cleanse my face and take a long warm shower using my favourite shower gels, and wash my hair with Lee Stafford Oily Roots, Dry Ends to detoxify my hair and get rid of any build up. After my shower, I like to use Sunkissed Gradual Tan to intensely moisturise whilst giving me a hint of a golden glow. I use Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Hair Healer Leave In Conditioner on the ends of my hair, and start a treatment of Renunail as my nails always feel damaged after work, especially lugging around those metal cannisters and heavy carts. Just before I go to bed that evening, I follow my usual skincare routine however instead of a night cream, I use Origins Drink Up Intensive to fully hydrate my skin before the next morning.

The following days are when jet lag is most likely to occur. I tend to be awake until 4am on the second day of being home and on the third day, I fall asleep early and wake up at 4am. I try my absolute best not to sleep throughout the day and try to go to bed when I’m tired and at a reasonable time. This is the area I can’t control but as I have my little routine, it seems to be getting better. My life is generally lived in a state of jet lag, and when I’m feeling like I can take no more and I’m truly exhausted then I take myself of to bed, whether it be 7pm or 2am. I’m sure it differs for everyone but what I will say is that as soon as i have gone back to work and have worn myself out, then sleep comes naturally. And on that note, I need to go to bed!

I hope this little air hostesses guide to getting over long haul helped you. If there is anything you’d like to know the answer too, please leave me a comment below!

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First things first, I know that I am not a passenger and that my daily hand luggage liquids will differ from most peoples carry on liquids however I still have to comply with the security restrictions set by the airport. The general rule is that any liquid, gel or cream that you want to carry into the cabin must be 100ml or below. I get so many people asking what they can and can’t take through security and my answer is always the same. If you desperately need to have it in your possession during the flight, it must be 100ml or under, placed in a clear seal-able plastic bag. Anything else would be better off in your hold luggage. Yes, you can take a cheese sandwich on board, but no you will not be able to take 4 pints of milk that you have brought from home. Once you have cleared security, you can purchase anything that you require in the departure lounge shops, so your Venti Starbucks latte is perfectly ok to take on the aircraft.

In my work handbag, I have my day to day essentials that I will need to use in flight as well as as a few items that I may need in case of an unscheduled night-stop. I have a sturdy clear plastic bag that is used to hold my liquids, gels and creams and anything else gets chucked in my bag. The items that I carry that don’t need to put in a clear bag are my MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium Plus and my Chanel Le Beiges in 40. I also carry a comb and a powder brush too.

I picked up my plastic bag in Cuba, it was in the room with complimentary toiletries inside and has served me well over the years. I do have a back up and also have one with all my sun-creams inside. I do have a few bits in my bag that I don’t use as frequently however I will always carry them as you never know when they will come in handy!

I keep my Kiehls In Flight Refreshing Facial Mist and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Hand Treatment at the top of my bag. These two wonder products are my most used and keep my face and hands feeling super hydrated throughout any flight. The hand cream really nourishes and protects your hands and you can still feel that the cream is on your hands even after washing them. It really is a god send. Soap & Glory A Great Kisser is also a staple item for when my lips get dried out. As I generally wear pink lipstick, the pink colour of the balm can be applied over existing lipstick to soften any dry patches. Hair bobbles and hair grips are also an essential to fix my hair or re position my bun back in place.

If you read my guide to a Long Lasting face, you would have read how I rarely top up my make up in work, except for a touch of powder and lipstick. I keep in my bag my favourite Urban Decay 24/7 duo eyeliner, my favourite end being the brown shade which I think is Whiskey. I also like to have a nail file for any snags. This one is from Healthy Nails and is a crystal file. Gimme Brow stays in my bag just for those unexpected night stops. As long as I can put on eyebrows, mascara and foundation, I can consider that to be enough face to get me through!

Unscheduled night stop make up includes Estee Lauder Double Wear. This sample isn’t my usual shade but as it is for emergencies only, it will do. I also have a sample size of Sumptuous Extreme mascara, my favourite Revlon Color Burst balm in Vivacious and a Lancome Juicy Tube in Strawberry. My Travelo contains Calvin Klein Eternity Summer, and if I am travelling on a long haul flight, I also take my full size bottle as it is 100ml.

Finally, I have my Soap & Glory Mist You Madly body spray, a perfect and fruity way to freshen up during a long day and my Soap & Glory Hand Maid antibacterial hand sanitiser. I must use one of these every fortnight, I think I am addicted!

What are your can’t live without carry on liquids? Can’t wait to hear!

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Its so nice to be able to share with everyone the ins and outs of my job. Many of you have been asking about what I take away with me when I’m on long haul trips so I thought I’d share a little bit into the essentials that I need when I am away. I have two suitcases when I do long haul, one for longer trips in which I use my big Samsonite suitcase and another for short trips, or what we call bullets, in which its usually just a night stop. Being away from home, whether it be a holiday or work can be quite hard to pack for as you like to have your home comforts and the products that you use frequently. The majority of items in my long haul case are duplicates of products that I use whilst at home to save me having to repack and unpack every single time I go away. Which is a lot at the moment!

My toiletry bag comes from Next, and consists of a large bag with two smaller bags inside. I use the medium sized bag (not shown) as my make up bag and the large and smallest bag remains in my case with the items in that I don’t need to unpack. The Next set of cases cost around £13 and each year Next update the designs. I purchased the nautical themed bags ( not available any more) as I love anything nautical!

Inside the small bag I keep items such as spare contact lenses, hair bobbles and grips, mosquito bands and cotton buds. I also have a few hair clips for when styling my hair and a mini sewing kit for emergencies. There is also medication inside such as painkillers and remedies for upset stomachs and dehydration.

My skincare items include my trusty Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and Instant Boost Skin Tonic and a clean muslin cloth, Johnsons make up wipes to take my eye make up off, Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream, DSM Carrot Cream and Soap and Glory Beauty Sleep Accelerator which is incredible for hydration before I fly.

Finally, I have a seperate bag for my nail care products, which I update with whatever shades I am wearing at the time. I love my Leighton Denny crystal nail file and essential remover. There is also an OPI remover and Avoplex hand cream. Manicure sticks, an Essie base coat and my favourite Leighton Denny shades and the One For All base and top coat are all I need for perfect nails.

So, there you have it! My long haul toiletries make sure that when I’m away from home I still feel at home. What products do you like to take with you when you go away?

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Sorry I’m not able to get a proper blog post up for you today and tomorrow but I am in the middle of my annual recurrent exams, also known in the industry as SEP. These are basically covering all safety and security, aircraft specifics and things like conflict and medical care. I am on 4 different aircraft types, the Boeing 767, Airbus A330, Airbus A320 and Airbus A321. I have to know the location of all of the equipment and all of the procedures in normal operation and emergency operation. It’s pretty intense but I have been flying for 8 years now so it is just a case of refreshing my memory so I go back online with a great knowledge base of what to do in any situation.

I had the most amazing response to my air hostess make up from last week, so I thought I would let you all get involved with an Ask Anoushka! So, any questions that you have about my job, or how to get a job like mine, or anything that makes you curious then please leave me a comment. I’ll choose the best ones and answer them in a blog post soon.

I will be back on Thursday with a new post and then unfortunately I’ll be having to drop my daily postings down to three times a week. Work is getting pretty hectic and I’m sadly not going to be in the country all the time.

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I cannot believe how many requests I have had for an insight into my work make up, so I though why not. I’ve been off for a few months and haven’t needed to wear such a heavy make up look so it has been nice to get back into the swing of things and get my hostie face on. As a hostie, I have to work very long days, with very early mornings or extremely late nights and I need to look fresh and immaculate at all times. I do take a lot of pride in my appearance and I make sure I always look presentable, whether it be 4am or 4pm. I have a few little tips for a long lasting face and this is my little guide to how you can achieve it for yourself.

Skincare is very important to me and is the basis of my whole long lasting face. I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily, and double cleanse after work as my skin gets so clogged up with dirt from the aircraft. The air conditioned environment also plays havoc with my skin and dries it out so badly. I have been using Hydraluron over the last year or so and I have found that it works wonderfully and helps retain moisture in my skin. I am also loving Vichy Idealia smoothing and illuminating cream and Clarins eye contour gel prior to applying my make up. Its all about the hydration steps for me!

Esteé Lauder Double Wear is the only foundation that I will wear for work. It is a high coverage, long lasting, almost mask like in appearance and doesn’t budge. It covers under eye bags and blemishes without the need for a separate concealer, and I have never had to use an extra primer underneath it. When having to apply make up at 0230 in the morning, being able to cut out other make up bits is ideal. I also like that Double Wear still gives me a healthy looking complexion even under artificial lighting. After I have applied my foundation and concealer, if needed, I use a Laura Mercier powder foundation to set my liquid foundation. I use the powder puff and press it into place and use a big fluffy brush to remove the excess. It may seem like a lot of base on the face, but trust me. In 12 hours you’ll be looking the same as what you did when you applied it!

Sculpting is very important to me whilst at work. The lighting has a tendency to wash you out so enhancing and defining is important. Illamsqua is my go to brand for my sculpting needs, with the Sculpting Duo and Cream Pigment in Hollow gracing my contours. Skin Base Lift is a handy product to have at hand as the peach toned colour removes those horrible eye bags that I suffer from so badly.

When I do my eyes, I always want to create the illusion of me being wide awake, even though I may not be. I have learnt over the years to leave anything that smudges alone. I used to love a liquid liner flick but after running up and down an aircraft 600 times a day, liquid eye liner does not love me. Therefore I now use champagne tones and brown and gold shimmery colours as they reflect the light and give me an open eyed effect. I have swapped the liquid liner for Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Brown and I generally use MAC Bare Study Paint Pot as a base, with Woodwinked in the crease and Espresso to smoke it out with a dash of All That Glitters in the inner corner. Two coats of L’Oreal Million Lashes mascara finishes of the look. My eyebrows are heavily defined with Illamasqua Eyebrow cake and Sealing Gel to ensure they do not move all day and Aurora Gleam is used to highlight under my brow.

On my cheeks I like to wear a matte blush such as MAC Gingerly and use a skinfinish like MAC Stereo Rose for a touch of shimmer. As my foundation is so matte, I like to continue in the trend, plus Gingerly is one of the most beautiful blushes I own. I don’t tend to wear bronzer for work as I find that it looks yellow on my face whilst under the artificial lighting. To finish off my look, I always go for a glossy bright pink lipstick or balm like Revlon Color Burst in Vivacious. The air conditioning really dries my lips out so badly, so matte lipsticks are a huge no no. I always wear bright pink for work and when I don’t, my work colleagues always mention that I don’t look like my usual self!

It is quite a heavy base make up and one that I do not wear when I am not in work, but trust me girls. If you are in a customer facing role or working in a shop with artifical lights, making sure your base is set will change your life. I only ever have to top up my lipstick, even my blusher doesn’t budge as it cemented on to the double foundation base. If it feels a bit cakey, which it shouldn’t do, when you first try, spray some Fix+ onto a fluffy brush and pat over to remove the excess powder and to set your make up.

I hope you liked my little insight to my work make up, as much as I enjoyed doing it for you!

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My life is certainly in the fast line. A diary that is filled to the brim with blog ideas to write up, products to review and events to attend, all combined with being an international air hostess. A constant stream of flights and trips away from home certainly makes having a blogging routine difficult, yet with a bit of organisation anything is possible!

Currys and PC World recently got in touch with me to ask me about my portable office, and I thought it was very apt as my office couldn’t be any more portable! Currys and Pc World are also holding a competition for two lucky winners to win a Microsoft Surface Pro 2 worth a whopping £799. See how you can enter here.

I am a very lucky girl in that I am able to travel as frequently as I do. It gives me great inspiration when I land in a foreign country for blog posts, and I like to get creative when taking photos of products I have been using. Early morning sunrise and the waves rolling onto the sand whilst in Mexico has made this picture really special. My favourite times to blog whilst I am away is early in the morning, especially if I’m jet lagged. I seem to be more creative whilst everyone else is still asleep.

Thankfully, most places that I visit have a Wi-Fi connnection so I can keep up to date with my social media pages such as Twitter and Facebook via my iPhone. My iPhone is an amazing piece of equipment. I can use it to take spur of the moment photos, update social media sites and catch up with my emails. I also love to take part in bloggers chats on Twitter and use my iPhone to log any notes and ideas that I come up with.

My main part of my portable office has to be my iPad. I use it to create blog pieces using a word app, and when I can connect to Wi-Fi, I can upload my blogs. I have a camera converter kit so I can transfer pictures from my camera straight to my iPad using a USB connection. The only downside to the iPad is that unlike a laptop, there are no USB ports so I can’t use my portable hard drive which has all my photographs stored. The iPad is an ideal size for travelling and can be customised with pretty cases and apps that help keep you organised. Some of my favourite apps included PicFunky and Bokeh for editing my pictures before I put them on Instagram or insert them in blog posts.

From hotel room to hotel room, beach to aircraft to home again, my portable office comes everywhere with me. As my blog grows, the amount of kit I have is growing, as is my portable office. I would love to be a lucky winner of the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 as my poor antiquated laptop is on its last legs.

What is your portable office like? Do you use a computer or a tablet to blog on the go?